ILOILO CITY, May 20 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released a total of PHP62.8 million benefitting 20,942 near-poor families in Western Visayas during the launching of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

"AKAP is for low-income earners, particularly those who are receiving minimum wage rate so that they will not fall back to poverty when they experience economic shocks," said Lawyer Carmelo N. Nochete, Regional Director of DSWD Field Office VI, in a statement Sunday afternoon.

The recipients receiving PHP3,000 each included 4,078 in Iloilo; 9,781 in Negros Occidental; 1,440 in Aklan; 2,394 in Antique; 3,249 in Capiz.

Several areas in Guimaras and Iloilo are yet to receive their cash aid as t...